Dan - TOY Factory Lofts Security

Dan in his natural habitat. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Meet Dan.

Officially, Dan is security at the TOY Factory Lofts across the street from my building. Unofficially, Dan is a security guard, doorman, dog-sitter, FedEx package signatory, dog treat dealer and overall jovial guy in a polka-dot tie.

Dan moved to Los Angeles from Maryland some years back to deal poker. But he quickly tired of that scene and stumbled onto our little block way the heck out here in industrial-land. And he decided to stay. When asked about the transition and why he can't ever seem to want to leave, he simply says, "I love it here. I REALLY love it here. The people are great." You'd have to love it here to work 6 days a week as he often does.


Dan Field Guide. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Beloved by the tenants—and their four-legged best friends—Dan is a fixture around these parts. He earned that status through his charm, sense of humor and biting, lightening-fast wit that is nearly always delivered completely deadpan.

I befriended Dan while hanging out at The Royal Claytons around happy hour. I'd recognized him as the guy I'd seen sitting in the odd little shipping container box/front desk in the lobby of the adjacent TOY. Only at The Claytons, the tie is gone and his shirt is always untucked (his way of saying "off-duty") as he holds court with a bottomless White Russian in hand.

And if you ask Dan what he does, he'll turn to you and pause with a serious look on his face and reply completely deadpan, "I run the building."